Weak chick?

[TheyBeChillin]

Hey, Backyard chickens! I bought 4 chicks from tractor supply today. They were just shipped into the store today.

Two of them are doing excellent! Eating, drinking, sleeping, and walking just fine. The other two, I’m very worried about. One chick, Daisy, is extremely sleepy, keeps his eyes closed, and drinks only a little. She struggles to walk. The other is very lethargic. She does not walk or drink. In fact, she refuses to drink. She doesn’t walk.

I put some honey in their water hoping that would help.

What do I do? I know it’s late that I’m posting this, but I got them at noon hoping they might perk up a little. Please help!!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

If they won't drink you'll need to carefully put a couple drops of sugar water in their mouths to try and perk them up - be careful as it is very easy for chicks to aspirate. If you have Poultry Nutri-Drench on hand it would be even better, in that case I'd use a few drops of that undiluted for a quick pick me up.

 

[TheyBeChillin]

If they won't drink you'll need to carefully put a couple drops of sugar water in their mouths to try and perk them up - be careful as it is very easy for chicks to aspirate. If you have Poultry Nutri-Drench on hand it would be even better, in that case I'd use a few drops of that undiluted for a quick pick me up.

I gave Daisy some honey and salt water mixture- it seemed to do her a lot of good. She’s still weak, but there was improvement.
For the other chick, I don’t have a dropper, but I used a wet paper towel, wiped it on her beak, and she drank some droplets that way.
Unfortunately, I do not have poultry nutri-drench. I checked to see if it was in stock at my tractor supply stores nearby, but it was not.
I read that you can feed them egg yolk/scrambled eggs. Thinking about doing that tomorrow. Would that be good for her?
I was also thinking about picking up some electrolytes from TSC tomorrow.
I’m a little disappointed that out of the 4 chicks I bought, 2 are as weak as they are. Is that just to be expected? My last set of four all did great- one was weaker than the others, but never this poor of shape I don’t believe.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I've never tried egg yolk myself though I know some folks here swear by it.

You can also make homemade electrolytes:
1 cup water
2 teaspoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking soda

 

[TheyBeChillin]

I've never tried egg yolk myself though I know some folks here swear by it.

You can also make homemade electrolytes:
1 cup water
2 teaspoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking soda

Thank you!!

One did die last night, but she quit fighting to survive. She was the one who refused to drink. The other one is very weak, but alive

 

[thecatumbrella]

I'm sorry you're going through his. We had a chick pass the first night, and the only thing she would take down at the end was Kaytee Exact Hand Feeding for Baby Birds. We also used electrolytes in the water and raw egg yolk (which she took at first, then refused). Hoping yours makes a quick recovery

 

[TheyBeChillin]

I'm sorry you're going through his. We had a chick pass the first night, and the only thing she would take down at the end was Kaytee Exact Hand Feeding for Baby Birds. We also used electrolytes in the water and raw egg yolk (which she took at first, then refused). Hoping yours makes a quick recovery

Thank you- I’ve been all over this morning. First tractor supply, then a breeder.. long story. But now I have two Olive eggers to keep the two healthy ones company.

Daisy is still alive and doing remarkably better. She walks now! Hoping she will make it. I thought for certain she’d be dead by the time I got home

 

[TheyBeChillin]

Thank you- I’ve been all over this morning. First tractor supply, then a breeder.. long story. But now I have two Olive eggers to keep the two healthy ones company.

Daisy is still alive and doing remarkably better. She walks now! Hoping she will make it. I thought for certain she’d be dead by the time I got home

I tried egg yolk but she refused it

 

[thecatumbrella]

I tried egg yolk but she refused it

I'm guessing that's partly because the eggs are cold coming out of the fridge. Anything you can mix with hot water (even making a gruel from their crumble) seems preferable. In fact, I'll be making some this afternoon to try and get vitamins/water into my struggling chick.

I'm glad you were able to find some more chicks! The stores have been pretty cleared out around here.

 

[TheyBeChillin]

I'm guessing that's partly because the eggs are cold coming out of the fridge. Anything you can mix with hot water (even making a gruel from their crumble) seems preferable. In fact, I'll be making some this afternoon to try and get vitamins/water into my struggling chick.

I'm glad you were able to find some more chicks! The stores have been pretty cleared out around here.

I tried again and she ate some yolk!

Thank you! Do you think she might make it?